Device for separating oil from water



Nov. 10, 1931. J. s. ADAMS 1,831,473

DEVICE FOR SEPARATING OIL FROM WATER Filed Nov. 20, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESS I a w t): 0.11 (17716 (5 BY ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1931. J ADAMS 1,831,473

DEVICE FOR SEPARATING OIL FROM WATER Filed Nov. 20. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS INVENTOR M v i.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oer-ice .mrms mmvoiv ADAMS, or nonlenn; rnims, nssmn'on To A. 135C. MAN FACTUR NG conrona'rrom A CORPORATION or m nus nnv'rcn ron snm'narme on. 1 30M WATER Application filed November '20, 1930. Serial No. 497,048.

This invention relates to a device for separating oil from water. An bject of the invention is the provision of a device for separating oil from water 3 without the use of any chemicals and without loss of gravity test.

A further object is the rovision of a, device which may be attache directly to an oil well, pipe lines, oil tanks'or other receptacles containing crude oil, the crude oil being .forced through the bottom of the device and being'discharged into a conically-shaped con-' tainer, where the liquids are given a centrifugal motion for forcing the water outwardly while permitting the oil to be collected at a central point and discharged therefrom, a spiral track being employed along the. inner wall of the container for guiding the water downwardly toward the discharging opening. Another object of the invention is the provision of a device for separating fluids of different specificgravities, the heavier liquid being thrown outwardly against the walls of a conical shaped container by centrifugal force, while the lighter liquids are permitted to flow to the center, from which they are withdrawn. s

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanyin drawings forming a part of the speci cation; nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure,lbe.- ing susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the. salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view 1n elevation of .an oil and water separator constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention;

Figure 2- is a vertical section of the separator;

Fi re 3 is a horizontal section, taken along the line 3-3 ofFigure 2;

Figure4 is a horizontal section, taken along the line 4.-4 of Figu re 2; and

Figure 5 is a view in perspective ofa device forcausing centrifugal force to be applied to the liquids.

Referring more particularly to the'drawings, designates verticallydisposed beams having their upper ends 11 bent inwardly and connected together by means of a plate 12. A pair of spaced plates 13 and 14 are provided with lugs 15 which are secured to the beams 10, Brace bars 16 connect the lower ends of the beams together below. the plates 13 and 14.

A centrally disposed shaft 20 is carried by bearings 21 and 22, the bearing 21 being formed on the plate 13. A wheel or drum 23 is secured to the hollow shaft .20. and is driven by'means of a belt 24 which in turn is driven by a'p-ulley 25; The'pulley maybe revolved in any approved manner.

A receptacle havinga discharge'spout 31 embraces the hollow shaft 20 and a packing 32 is carried by the receptacle 30.and

seals the bottom of the receptacle where the shaft 20 passes through the-same. .Legs 33 are secured at 34 to the plate 13 and the upperends of the legs are secured in any approved manner to the receptacle 30.

A plate 35 '-s pro vided with arms 36 which are secured at 37 to the beams 10. This'plate is located adjacent the top 38 of the receptacle 30 and bolts 39 secure the top of the re- "ce'ptacle, and a flange 40 and a packing 41 to the plate 35. Atubular member 45 telescopes the hollow shaft 20 and extends downwardly through thepacking 41 and a passage 38 of the receptacle 30 where the tubular member opens into said receptacle. It will be noted that the flange 40 is connected to or formed integrally with the member 45.

A conically-shaped housing is located'at the upper end of the separator and has a curved bottom portion 51'formed integrally with the tubular member 45. The tubular member is in open communication with the housing 50 through an opening 52. It will be notedthat the larger end of the housing 50 is adjacent the tubular member 45 while the upper end tapersuntil it substantially merges toward the upper end 53 of the shaft 2 20, but said end is free from the shaft? A circular plate 55 is secured to the shaft 20 above the plurality of passages 56 and the hollow shaft 20 above the perforations is closed, as shown at 57.

A plurality of vanes 60 are secured to the upper end 53 of the shaft 20 and also to the plate 55, and these vanes taper to points below openings 61 formed in the upper end 53 of the shaft 20. It will be noted more particularly from Figure 3 that these blades or vanes are curved for a purpose which will be presently explained. A spiral track 62 extends from the upper end of the conical shaped housing 50 to points adjacent the plate 55 and is secured to the inner wall of said housing. It will be noted that the inner edges of the track are spaced from the free edges of the vanes 60.

A discharge pipe 63 for oil is in open communication with the upper end 53 of the shaft 20 and this portion of the shaft is carried by the packing 22 which is located in a passage formed in the top plate 12.

The operation of my device is as follows:

The untreated oil from the well which contains water or the untreated oil from a container is forced through the bottom connection 7 0 of the hollow shaft 20 and the oil and water passes upwardly and is discharged through the openings 56 into the housing 50. The drum 23 is revolved likewise, causing rotation of the shaft 20 and the vanes or blades 60. The oil and water which has entered the housing 50 is agitated, and due to the rotation ,of the vanes 60 a centrifugal motion is imparted to the fluid in said housing. The

heavier fluid, such as water, is thrown outwardly against the inner wall of the housing 50 while the oil, which is lighter, moves'upwardly adjacent the upper end 53 of the shaft 20, where it enters the passages 61 in the shaft 20 and is discharged through the outlet pipe 63. The spiral path- 62 bein in the region where the water has been rown by centrifugal force travels downwardly and is aided in its gravitational descent by the spiral path 62. The water enters a zone of rest which is located below the'plate and the bottom of the house whence the water passes downwardly through the space which is located between the tubular member 45 and the shaft 20, entering the receptacle 30 and is then discharged through the spout 31.

It will be noted that this method of separation of oil and water may be continuous as long as the constant stream of untreated oil is applied to the hollow shaft 20 through the connection 70. In view of this, water will fiow continuously fromvthe spout 31 while oil will be carried off through the outlet pipe 63.

I claim:

1. A separator comprising a housing, a hollow shaft extending through the housing and having its ends projecting from opposite ends of the housing, means for closing the hollow shaft between the opposite ends of the housing, one end of the shaft forming wardly towards the walls of the housing, and

means for withdrawing the heavier liquids away from the housing.

2. A separator comprising a housing, a hollow shaft extending through the housing and having its ends projecting from opposite ends of the housing, means for closing the hollow shaft between the opposite ends of the housing, one end of the shaft forming an outlet for oil, the other end of the shaft forming an inlet for crude oil containing water, the hollow shaft having intake ports at one side of the closing means to admit crude oil to the housing, the shaft having discharge ports for oil separated from the water on the opposite side of the closing means, means for rotating the shaft, vanes on the shaft and located in the housing for causing the heavier liquids to be thrown outwardly towards the walls of the housing, and means for withdrawing the heavier liquids away from the housing, a spirally arranged path on the in- I outlet for oil, the other end of the shaft forming an inlet for crude oil containing water, the hollow shaft having intake ports at one side of the closing means to admit crude oil to the housing, the shaft having discharge ports for oil separated from the water on the opposite side of the closing means, means for rotating the shaft, vanes on the shaft.

and located in the housing for causing the heavier liquids to be thrown outwardly towards the walls of the housing, and means for withdrawing the heavier liquids awa from the housing, a disk secured to the sha t above the intake ports to provide a zone of rest for the liquids located at the bottom of the housing.

A separator comprising a housing, a hollow shaft extending through the housing and having its ends projecting from opposite ends of the housing, means for closing the hollow shaft between the opposite ends of the housing, one end of the shaft forming an outlet for oil the other end of the shaft forming an inlet for crude oil containing water, the

' of the closing means to admit-crude oil to the housing, the shaft having'discharge ports for oil separated from the water'on the opposite side of the closing means, means for rotating the shaft, vanes on the shaft and located in the housing for causing the heavier liquids to be thrown outwardly towards the walls of the housing, and means for withdrawing the heavier liquids away from the housing, a disk secured to the shaft adjacent the lower ends of the vanes, and a spiral path in the inner wall of the housing.

5. A se arator comprisin a vertically disposed an conicallyshape housing, a hollow shaft extending through the housing and having its ends pro ecting ing, one end of the shaft formin an outlet for oil, the-other end of the, sha forming an inlet for crude oil containing water, the hollow shaft having intake ports at one side of the closing means to admit crude oil to the housing, the shaft having discharge ports for e opposite oil separated from the water on t side of the closing means, means for rotating the shaft, vanes on the shaft and located in the housing for causing the heavier liquids to be thrown outwardly towards the walls of the/housing, and means for withdrawing the heavier liquids away from the housing, a spirally arranged ath on the inner wal of the housing exten ing from the top of the housing to points adjacent the outlet connec- '35 tions between the shaft and the housinfi 6. A separator comprising a vertica y (115- posed and conically shaped housing, a hollow shaft extending through the housing and having its ends projecting from opposite ends of the housing, means for closin the hollow shaft between the. opposite en s of the housin one end of the shaft forming art outlet or oil, the other end of the shaft form I ing an inlet for crude oil containing water, the hollow shaft having intake ports at one side of the closin means to admit crude oil to'the housing, t e shaft having dischar e ports for oil separated from the water on t e opposite side of the closing means, means for rotating the shaft, vanes on the shaft and located in the housing for causing the heavier liquids to be thrown outwardly towards the walls of the housing, means for withdrawing the heavier liquids away from the housing, a spirally arranged Juath on the inner wall of the housing exten i housing to points adj acent-the outlet connections between the shaft and the housing, a

disk secured to the shaft above said outletconnections to providea zone of rest of the liquids between said disk and the bottom of the housing. I Y

J. 'SHANPTON ADAMS.

rom opposite ends of the housing, means for closing the hollow shaft between the opposite ends of the hous.

ng from the top of the 

